The ICANN/IANA address pool is finished. Soon, the RIR IPv4 address pool will also get depleted. It is possible that there will be continued demand for IPv4 addresses long after the AfriNIC pool is depleted. New ISPs (and those growing their existing networks) that do not want (for various reasons) to consider IPv6 will be looking for IPv4 addresses. This proposal attempts to propose a legitimate way for such ISPs to acquire IPv4 addresses from existing AfriNIC members (legacy or not) who wish to give away some addresses (with some consideration or otherwise).

2) The Proposal

2.1) Legacy members can transfer part or all of their IPv4 addresses to any company under the following criteria:

a) The company to which the addresses are transferred may or may not enter into agreement with AfriNIC.

b) The legacy member may or may not inform AfriNIC about the transaction.

c) AfriNIC will accord the third party all relevant access to services and benefits normally available to legacy members.

2.2) Paying AfriNIC members can transfer part or all of their IPv4 addresses to any company under the following criteria:

a) The company to which the addresses are transferred must enter into agreement with AfriNIC.

b) The transfer and needs analysis cannot be based on any current policies. The only requirement for the transfer to happen should be the contract between the member and AfriNIC.

c) The relevant AfriNIC fees must apply to the third party.

d) AfriNIC will accord the third party all relevant access to services and benefits normally available to normal members.

Discussions are taking place on the policy working group mailing list if you want to subscribe to the mailing send your subscription request to rpd-request [at] afrinic.net with 'Subscribe' as subject line